Priligy is a tablet men can take to help temporarily treat premature ejaculation (PE). It is effective in around 80% of men and one pill taken before sex can help to double or triple the amount of time it takes to ejaculate.

Find out more about PE treatment service.

Priligy (dapoxetine) is used for the treatment of premature ejaculation in adult men between 18-64 years old.

Priligy contains the active ingredient dapoxetine. Dapoxetine belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These work by boosting the levels of serotonin in the body, causing a delayed reaction in the areas of the brain that trigger ejaculation.

Take one Priligy tablet 1-3 hours before sexual activity, with or without food, with plenty of water.

Never take more than one tablet within 24 hours and do not consume alcohol when you use Priligy.

Priligy should not be used on a continuous daily basis.

Priligy may not work for you the first time you take it. You may need to try the product four separate times to see if it has an effect on you. If it doesn't work after trying it four times, let us know and we can suggest an alternative treatment.

Priligy comes in two strengths: 30mg and 60mg. The usual dose is 30mg and this is what we would prescribe for anyone first using Priligy. If, after trying four separate times, this hasn't been effective for you, contact us through your online patient record and we might be able to offer you the 60mg dose to try.

Priligy (dapoxetine) is up to 80% effective in the treatment of premature ejaculation. This means up to 8 out of 10 men will notice an improvement in symptoms.

As with all medicines, there's the possibility of experiencing side effects when taking Priligy. Please read the treatment plan we send if we prescribe Priligy and the Patient Information Leaflet for full details on possible side effects before taking this medicine.

The most common side effects people experience with Priligy are nausea, dizziness, headache, fainting and diarrhoea.

If you feel dizzy or faint after taking Priligy then you should not drive, operate heavy machinery or undertake hazardous activities.

Please contact us through your online patient record if you're concerned about any side effects you experience.

Do not take Priligy alongside oral ED medicines, as this can cause your blood pressure to drop resulting in dizziness or feeling faint especially if you stand up.

You should leave at least 24 hours between taking Priligy and taking Viagra (Sildenafil), Spedra (Avanafil) or Levitra (Vardenafil); and if taking Priligy and Cialis (Tadalafil) leave at least 48 hours between taking each medicine.

Make sure you are in a position to be able to sit or lie down if you do feel faint or dizzy and do not drive, operate machinery or undertake hazardous activities until the feeling of faintness has completely gone away.

Priligy should not be taken alongside other SSRI antidepressant medicines — e.g. citalopram, fluoxetine.

We can also prescribe Paroxetine tablets to help treat PE, which is another SSRI that works in a similar way to Priligy.

Alternatively, EMLA cream is a treatment that contains a local anaesthetic, which decreases sensation in the penis and can therefore delay ejaculation.

Find out more about PE treatments.

Counselling can help some men to explore any underlying psychological causes or relationship anxieties that may be contributing to premature ejaculation.

Other 'self-help' techniques you can try are:

• Masturbating 1 to 2 hours before having sex
• Using a thick condom to help decrease sensation
• Taking a deep breath to briefly shut down the ejaculatory reflex
• Taking regular breaks during sex
• Distracting yourself by thinking about something else
• Trying the 'squeeze' technique—squeezing the end of the penis where the glans joins the shaft for several seconds until the urge to orgasm passes
• Trying condoms that contain local anaesthetic

Premature ejaculation is when you feel as though you have an inability to control ejaculation and you ejaculate earlier than you would like. This often means when you have sex, you can't continue long enough before ejaculating to satisfy both yourself and your partner.

It's a common ejaculation problem and affects many men at some point in their lives.

PE is not the same as erectile dysfunction (ED), where you may struggle to get or maintain an erection hard enough for sex. Find out more about ED here.

If you are experiencing both PE and ED, we recommend that you treat ED symptoms first as this can actually improve PE symptoms also.

PE is a complex issue that can be caused by both psychological and physical factors.

Depression, stress, relationship issues and performance anxiety can all contribute to premature ejaculation.

For some men, oversensitivity of the penis or nerve damage may be factors. PE can occasionally be a symptom of a more serious medical condition, like prostate problems.

Find out more about PE.

Priligy is only available with a prescription. It can be prescribed by your GP or online from UK regulated pharmacies like Boots Online Doctor.

With our team of friendly, expert clinicians just a few clicks away, you can avoid the hassle and embarrassment of a doctor's appointment or a trip to the pharmacy. Just fill out our simple online questionnaire and we can provide PE treatment if suitable for you without needing to wait or talk to anyone directly.

We offer Priligy in two strengths: 30mg and 60mg. One of our team can help you with which dose is suitable for you.

Priligy can be an effective treatment for men aged between 18-64 years old who've had troublesome PE symptoms in the majority of sexual encounters within the last 6 months.

It cannot be taken by men who have heart conditions, blood clotting issues, a history of severe mental health problems, or who are taking certain medicines. This is because more severe side effects can occur.

You must tell us about any medical issues or medicines you are taking in your questionnaire so we can assess whether Priligy is suitable and safe for you.